what does predicate mean

A predicate is the part of a sentence that tells what the subject does or is, usually starting with the verb and including any extra details about the action or state.

Basic idea (grammar)

In a simple sentence like:

The dog barked loudly.

• Subject: "The dog"
• Predicate: "barked loudly" — it contains the verb "barked" plus more information about what the dog did.

You can think of it as:
Subject = who/what the sentence is about
Predicate = what is said about that subject.

A slightly more formal definition

Many grammar and dictionary sources describe the predicate as:

• The part of a sentence or clause that:
  • Contains the main verb.
  • Expresses what is said about the subject.
  • May include objects, complements, and adverbs (things like “quickly,” “to the store,” “a teacher,” etc.).

Example:

Maria wrote a long email yesterday.

• Subject: "Maria"
• Predicate: "wrote a long email yesterday" (verb = wrote; the rest adds detail).

If you were asking about logic or math instead of grammar: in logic, a predicate is what is affirmed or denied about a subject, like “is mortal” in “Socrates is mortal.”